Spring-hinge.



c. A. TANNER.

SPRING HINGE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. )9. 19:3.

Patented Jul 27, 1915.

CHARLES A. TANNER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. TO NELLIE I. LAUKHUF, OF

' PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

SPRING-HINGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. TANNER,

vention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

This invention relates to a spring-hinge for doors.

The object of the invention is to provide a hinge of separable portions one of which can be permanently attached to the door frame or door jamb, and the other to the door, and a spring that can be attached to both and adjusted for any desired tension.

Another object is to provide a hinge of two separable portions one for attachment to the door frame and the other to the door, a spring attached to both, and means to secure the door positively in its wide open position when desired, in opposition to the pressure of the spring.

It is the desire, especially in the use of screen doors that are removed periodically, to furnish a form of hinge that will admit of the ready removal of the door without the removal of screws orother parts and that will still include an elastic member such as a spring that can likewise'be separated from a part of the hinge to permit the separation of the hinge parts.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved hinge mounted upon a door and a door j amb. Fig.

2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a portion of the hinge showing part of a certain means for holding the door in the open position. Fig. 4 shows, in perspective, a companion part to coact with the part shown in Fig. 3.

A indicates the frame of the door and B the door jamb.

C indicates one half of the hinge secured to the door A, and D is the other portion of the hinge secured to said door-jamb B. The said hinge portion D includes an extension E from which arises a vertical fixed hingepin F. The portion C includes a part G similar to the extension E to he slipped over the hinge pin, and said extension is provided with a socket H to receive the said pin. The socket member G in being carried by the door is adapted to be placed upon the hinge-pin or removed from it so that the door can readily be placed in position orremoved. The portion C has an extension J at one end which includes the tubular part K forming a recess adapted to receive one end of a coil spring L held therein by any suitable means, a pin M, for example, which extends through the said tubular portion and the spring. The portion D is also provided with an extension N. Extending from the latter perpendicular to its plane, as in Fig. 2, is a part 0 bored at P and threaded to receive a threaded tubular part or thimble Qprovided with any suitable means for rasping it such as knurled head R. A pin a or similar device carried by the thimble may engage the spring and prevent its leaving its seat.

Extending from the bottom of the recess of the thimble Q substantially centrally of the spring is a post S. This carries at its free end means to engage a part V extending from the hinge portion C to be described presently. Said means, however, may be a part of said post or may be secured to it and has a recess T. The walls are provided with slits U at intervals, the parts of said walls being bent inward slightly and allowed to spring and hold by friction the part V on the said hinge portion C. Said part comprises a post which may be cast with said hinge portion C. It extends into the spring L, its end terminating in a head V to enter the said socket T.

The spring L being under compression within the tubular portion K and the thimble Q is at all times exerting pressure upon these parts resulting in holding the door in its closed position. The tension may be adjusted by means of the thimble Q for increasing or decreasing the power exerted by said spring. This power is governed by the weight of door the spring isto be used with. When it is the wish to maintain the door in its wide open position, as indicated in broken lines, the head V of the post V which in opening the door is brought opposite the socket T of the post S, by force is made to enter the socket the spring walls U separating to receive it and then holding it by friction. To release the door a firm pull or jerk is required to remove the head V from the socket. It is to be understood that I may use any other means to hold the door in its open position that will be the equivalent of the structure described. The slight adjustment of the thimble for changing the tension of the spring is not sufiicient to alter the position of the socket T such as to prevent proper register of the head V therewith. In taking the door down the pin Q or other means that may be used with the thimble Q to hold the spring is removed. The thimble can then be backed out so that the end of the spring L resting therein can be withdrawn. The door M may then be lifted from the pin F and it may as easily be replaced. I may not use the pin Q, or its equivalent since the socket of the thimble Q can be made deep enough to hold the spring.

Having described the invention I claim 1. A door hinge comprising two portions and a coil spring, one of the portions having a socket to receive one end of said spring, means to secure the end of the spring therein, the other portion of the hinge ineluding an adjustable part provided with a socket to receive the opposite end of a spring, means carried by the adjustable part to hold the spring.

2. A spring hinge consisting of two readily separable portions, a helical spring normally flexed in a lateral direction to lie substantially concentric to the pivoting point of the hinge, means to secure one end of the spring to one of the hinge portions, and a part carried by and extending from the other hinge portion to carry the other end of the spring.

3. A spring hinge consisting of two readily separable portions, a helical spring secured at one end to one of the hinge portions and normally flexed in a lateral direction in the form of an are described from the pivot of the hinge, and a part carried by and extended from the other hinge portion and receiving the other end of the spring and adapted to adjust the tension of the same.

4. A spring hinge consisting of two separable portions, an expanding spring operatively engaging the said portions, a part extending from one of the hinge portions including a flexible portion, and a part extending from the other hinge portion to engage the flexible portion, said portions adapted to frictionally engage each other and hold the hinge parts in one or" their extreme positions relatively.

5. A spring hinge comprising two hinged portions adapted to be lifted one from the other, a helical spring secured at one end to one of the portions and flexed in a lateral direction in an are described from the hinge point of the portions, one of its ends abutting upon one of the hinge portions, means to hold the spring at that end upon said portion, an extended arm on the other hinge portion and a part carried thereon to receive and carry the other end of the spring and adjust the tension of the same, and coacting parts carried by the hinge portions adapted to automatically engage in the opening of the hinge portions and to hold said portions in one of their extreme positions relatively.

6. A spring door hinge comprising two hinged portions and a spring interposed between and exerting pressure in opposite directions against both, coacting means carried by the two portions of the hinge adapt ed to engage automatically in the open movement of the door and maintain said open position by friction in opposition to the tension of the spring.

7. A spring door hingecomprising two hinged portions and an expanding spring interposed between and acting on both of them, a part carried by one of the portions to adjust the tension of the spring, and coacting parts adapted to automatically engage by friction to fix the hinge in its open position, one of the said parts being carried by each portion,

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES A. TANNER. Witnesses:

L. E. SUTI-IERLAND, L. M. THURLOW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

